New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-14
THE HIGH-LICENSE BILL.


The Crosby High License bill will come up
for discussion in the Assembly tomorrow or
Wednesday probably, in Committee OF the
Whole. Notwithstanding the recent circulation
of rumors to the effect that the liquor-deacrs
have won votes enough to defeat the DILL IL
can be carried if the Republican members VINO
have already declared themselves In favor OF
It will stand by their acknowledged preference
On the 25th Of February. when vote was
taken in the Assembly on q motion TO recon-
nit tho bill to the Excise Committee. the loi-
lowing Republicans voted against the mouoh
and virtually for the bill:
Nays-Ainsworth, Arnold. Babcock, Baker. bates'
Brupdage Cole, Connell. Crosby Curtis. DAVIS %. H.
Edison. Eliridge Emory. Erwin. Fort Frost orlneh'
Hamilton Hogeboom. Horton. Howe, IngersoI 'ohhson'
KimbalI, Latimer, Leete, Mabie Manville masc. MO
Carthy McEvoy Moses, Parsons. Pierce' ria." io,''
Prime Rea Robinson saxton. Smith Martin. Smith Rob-
er H. Stacey. Taylor Tsdale. Thompson A. Be- Ihoinson
ID. L. Vandemark. White Youngman. Husted-o2
OF the six Republicans who voicd to recon-
NIT the bill Mcssrs. Maxwell Maurer, Hall and
Gallagher are from tho country. Sixteen Re
pubicans were absent when this vote was
taken. OF these Messrs. Kruse. lladley. berry,
Seayer, Walters, Henry, Buckley, Slime,
(ioerss. Davies. Evans, Baucus, Sweet, Smith
and Burns are also from the country. All
these ought to be depended upon TO vote Tor the
bill, not only because there is no doubt that
the measure is q salutary one and Is demanded
ty Ncw-Y ork but because the passage oil such
a bill at this time is necessary to the wcll-be-
ing of the Republican party the luhewarmness
of which upon this class of legislation in the
mast has provoked dissatisfaction liable to
issue in revolt
We print in another part Of to-days TRlB-
UNE review of the growth and progress OF
Prohibition in the State which Republicans III
the Legislature are recommended TO examine
carefully The statistics there given arc trust
worthy and the showing they make is serious.
The Prohibition increase of last year was be-
yond question caused by the work OF the last
Legislature. Let members consider what KIND
of q further increase in that vote the defeat
of High License at this time is likely TO pro-
duco and what effect such growth OF that
vote will have upon the prospects and position
of the patty in the State Let members fur
tier put before themselves plainly the present
state Of the case. The Crosby bill Is de-
rnanded by the people of New York and Brook
lyn II is not, it is true. wholly satisfactory
measure but it Is tire best that is now posi-
bic. A more radical law could not be admin
istcred. 1t is believed here, and On good
ground. that it will prove effective III reducing
the number Of saloons. and especially Ill root
ing out the worst places. That is Us much ~
can be expected for a beginning, but so much
ut least is insisted upon. The bill lis being
watched oil over the State. The temperance
sentiment, which is strong in the Republican
ranks, Is for IT. That sentiment is uneasy,
restless, dissatisfied and hcsltatng. Let 1t he
outraged at such juncture by the defeat Of
the High License bill, and The consequences
may he foreseen.
The bill Is being fought by the liquor
interest with desperation which proves
it's effectiveness. IL is being fought. Is
common report says and rs tho public
believe, with money. The indecent parade
OF the liquor men In the Assembly Chamber
last week startled mauy people, and not with
out reason The Republican members cannot
afford to allow the suspicious which such pro-
ccedings create TO be carried to the conclusion
which the defeat Of the bill would render lOgi-
cal and inevitable. There is no excuse which
will be accepted as valid for n vote against
the passage If the measure. That is the truth.
and it should 10 taken to heart. The future
Of tho members and the future Of the party are
threatened alike by whatever influences men
ace the High License bill. No measure intro
daced for many sessions carries with it such
grave implications. 1t ought to have been
adopted in caucus rcsolutcly and TO have been
carried steadily thrueh lis different stages.
| 1t may not be too late for this even now. but
no more serious mistake can DO made by tho
Republicans at Albany than 10 imagine that
| if they le. this bill be beaten when they have
it in their power to pass it they can escape re-
sponsibility, or that IN such q case they can
undo the widespread mischief certain TO follow.